Of wetsuits and drowning and stupidity and such

First things first: 

Wetsuits:  not attractive, not comfortable and not easy to put on. 
Wetsuits:  Easy to float in, slimming because they are black (right?), make you look more professional than you will ever be. 

Drowning: Not fun, not desirable, not exactly the plan
Drowning:  A high possibility. 

Stupidity:  Not smart. 
Stupidity:  Thinking that one open water swim before a 1.2 mile swim (yes you read the right) is going to be enough. 

So, there you have it. 

Those are some of my observations from tonight. 

And from a professional triathlete (ya, I roll in circles like that) a few more observations. 

1.  Don't fight the water
2.  Slow down and breathe (rocket science right?)

3.  Just keep swimming, or back float or such. 
4.  Don't get water up your nose.  (seems easy. . . it's not)
5.  DON'T FIGHT THE WATER! 


I've got a little over a week to live my life. . . . before I possibly drown and die, wearing an unattractive wetsuit.  I hope that Eric will at least identify me for my loved ones. 

Any prayers would be appreciated.  Seriously.  Just pray I can survive the swim and make it to the 56 mile bike and 13.1 mile run.  Praying that I will look good in a wetsuit is a lost cause. 

Took 1 picture

1 - The number of pictures we took this weekend

2- The number of temples we tried to go to.
 
3 - The number of days together.

4 - The number of exits or turns missed while driving because he was so distracted by me (either that or I wasn't giving very good navigating instructions).

5 - The number of hours of sleep we probably averaged each night throughout the weekend.  He just NEVER wanted to say goodnight.

6 -  How much Kneeders French Toast was eaten.....all you can eat and we eat 6 pieces (technically 5.5 but I'm rounding up for the purpose of this post) between the two of us.  I think we need to go more hungry. 

7 -  The number of minutes he probably had to wait for me every time he was ready to go somewhere. It takes time to be beautiful. 

8 - The number of times my dad asked when he was going to get to come to Eugene to visit this summer. . . . I think he is trying to pawn me off on Eric.  I also think Eric is on to his scheming. (the answer was zero)

9 - The number of seconds his showers lasted (approximately) because we both thought that the hot water still wasn't working in the guest bathroom. . . . I discovered it was the morning he left when I was cleaning. 

10- The  number of miles we ran on Saturday morning.  

11 - The number of days until I see him again. . . . and possibly for the last time if I don't actually survive the Half-Ironman.

Graduated. . . . . A Long time ago

I was asked last week to play the piano for one of my yw who was singing at her High School Seminary graduation.

I happily obliged. And then I bought a new dress for the performance. (just kidding)
As we were practicing I started reflecting on my own seminary graduation

15 years ago.

I thought I was so grown up.
I thought I was ready to conquer the world.
I thought I knew a lot about the gospel.
I thought that my red dress I wore to a formal dance that year was the most beautiful thing ever.
I've learned a lot more since that evening 15 years ago.

Thankfully.

I've learned that the foundation I received by attending and graduating from seminary have been crucial to my success.
I've learned that my testimony hasn't necessarily changed, just grown.
I've learned that I will always have a special place I'm my heart for my seminary teachers.
I've learned that the red dress was probably cute then, but now. . . .wow.
I've learned that my seminary scriptures are fun to read (and "glue-ins" lose their glue after 15 years)
I've learned that I am still growing up and I am still learning.

I can't believe it was 15 years ago.

I feel old. 

Check out this cool mormon messages clip I found on LDS.org while I was preparing my YW lesson for Sunday. . . . .  (can I just say that the media the church has now is SO much better than when I was in High School, but I still kind of miss the cheesy made up family that accompanied the year that we studied the Doctrine and Covenants. Plus, sometimes we cheated and my dad would show us the videos before we were in Seminary.  Oh, and you better believe I not only owned, but had the soundtracks memorized by heart.  I was such a nerd.)

Just watch it. 

i am  one of a kind.  

i think i am the luckiest.

i am happy to only have 8.5 days of school left

i have too many pairs of shoes.

i miss playing night games on Mohawk Avenue with my neighborhood friends. 

i fear my parents dying in a car wreck or a plane crash.  (totally irrational, I know, but I still have to go home to say goodbye to them every-time they travel)

i feel out of place in a ward full of mom's and babies and families.

i smell lilacs and I am instantly taken back to my childhood. 

i usually turn off my alarm clock every morning before it has a chance to go off.  Why do I even set it? I'm not sure.  

i search for good deals and the perfect pair of colored skinny jeans.  no luck yet.

i wonder how many kids I'll have someday.  I'm getting old.

i love the feeling of accomplishing my goals.

i care too much

i tell myself not to care so much

i worry about my yw

i am not as cool as my 2 siblings who are getting married this summer (my nephew told me I could be cool if I got married.  working on it)

 

i remember exercising to "mousercise" from the disney channel as a child.  What? you didn't? you missed out.  

i believe that there is a plan for me.  A better plan than I could ever come up with. . . and I've come up with some good plans.  

i sing to myself while I run.  seriously, sometimes I do.  who needs an i-pod? 

 

i don’t always hang up or put away my laundry when it comes out of the dryer.  It usually takes me at least a day.  

 

i don’t like crying in front of people. You know how some people cry pretty? I don't.   

i write in my journal at least once a week.  It's therapeutic 

(and kind of ridiculous/entertaining to go back and read)

 

i win rarely.  

 

i lose my keys.  daily.  sometimes 2x.  

 

i dance with Ann-Marie in a black leotard and pink tights.  That is, after all, what real ballerina's do. 

 

i wish I was a better swimmer.  

 

i never get everything done that I want to in a day, but don't you fret, I keep on making those lists.  every day. 

 

i listen to the freeway outside my bedroom window and wonder if I should quit my teaching job and just be a stay at home traffic reporter.  

 

i don't understand why some days I run and feel great and other days I make it three steps and want to quit.  

i can usually be found with earrings in my ears.  With short hair it is kind of necessary.  

 

i need a day with no responsibilities.  That would be a dream come true.  

 

i forget that people actually read my blog and sometimes post things that should just be written in my journal.  

Have you ever. . .

Have you ever

done nothing monumental and yet everything you wanted to all in one weekend?

I have

Have you ever

watched someone when they didn't know you were watching and been amazed at their talent and abilities? 

I have.  (it is different than stalking)

Have you ever 

read the pamphlet "Is Kissing a Sin?"

I have.  (it isn't)

Have you ever

felt uncommonly comfortable in a home that isn't yours? 

I have. 

Have you ever

thought up "games" to play with two active children so that they don't touch every item in the bike shop?  (they were fun games, Eric missed out since he was looking at bikes)

I have.

Have you ever 

wished you didn't live 852 miles away?

I have. 

Have you ever

had someone listen to you as you ramble on and on probably making no sense at all? 

I have (sadly, probably more than once, or twice, or three times. . . . )

Have you ever

felt like you had a purpose and a place just laying in the bottom bunk reading books to a 4 yr old at bedtime? 

I have.

Have you ever

had someone who hardly knows you let you stay at their house, and use their vehicles and keep you company when you come to visit their brother/brother-in-law?

I have.  (so kind)

Have you ever

been invited to tag along on a daddy daughter date and reminisced about 30 years ago when you were the little girl so excited to be with her dad at McDonalds? 

I have. 

Have you ever

missed a flight because you couldn't stand the thought of going home to an empty house? 

I have.

Have you ever

had someone be so patient with you that you decide to be more patient with yourself? 

I have.  (I'll keep working at it)

Have you ever

wished you could freeze a moment in time and keep it forever? 

I have.  

Have you ever 

realized you still didn't take any pictures and people are going to wonder if you are making the whole thing up? 

I have.  (I'm not)

Have you ever

gone to a "guy movie" (aka: avengers) and secretly really liked it, even though you didn't totally understand?

I have. (it was good!)

Have you ever

learned a valuable lesson while reading a Book of Mormon picture reader or the Friend? 

I have. 

 

Have you ever

tried to explain to your mom what is going on while you are trying to get off the phone with her and have someone kissing you at the same time? 

I have.  (he can't get enough of me)

Have you ever 

been to a track meet in "Track Town USA --  best:time:ever"?

I have.

Have you ever

run on a quiet morning through trees that are actually green on a street with not another single soul in sight?

I have.

Have you ever 

looked into someone's eyes and known that he really did mean what he was saying? 

I have.  

Have you ever

wondered how you are so lucky?  

I have. 

I do. 

Every single day.